BULIMIA NERVOSA

This early-stage study tests whether MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy) combined with talk therapy can help people with bulimia nervosa. Forty adults will be assigned to one of three groups: MDMA with general therapy, MDMA with bulimia-specific therapy, or standard treatment…

This study tests whether a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a natural hormone) can help adults with binge-eating disorder eat less often in binges. About 60 adults will receive either the oxytocin spray or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers will track changes in binge frequency a…

This study tests two types of social therapy for young adults (ages 18-30) with eating disorders or anxiety. One group gets educational sessions about brain function and social processing; the other adds interactive art tasks done in teams. Researchers will track changes in eatin…

This study is testing an AI-powered chatbot called Exp-ED that guides teens and young adults through exposure therapy exercises to reduce anxiety about weight gain. Twenty participants in a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders will use the app for six weeks. Resea…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people with type 1 diabetes who also have eating disorders. Participants will be randomly assigned to ACT, supportive diabetes counseling, or a waitlist. The goal is to see if …

This study tests two smartphone-based programs for adults with binge eating disorders. One program uses heart rate feedback and breathing exercises, while the other uses guided body scans to help people connect with internal sensations like hunger. The goal is to reduce binge eat…

This study tests a noninvasive brain-training technique called neurofeedback in 30 women with bulimia nervosa. Using a wearable headband that measures brain activity, participants receive real-time feedback while eating to improve self-control. The goal is to see if this training…

This study tests a mobile app called FoodTraining that trains people to resist food cues. About 113 adults with obesity, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder will use the app for 4 weeks alongside their usual treatment. Researchers will measure changes in emotional eating and uncont…

This study tests whether virtual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help reduce binge eating and bulimia symptoms in veterans and other underrepresented groups. About 144 adults with binge eating disorder or bulimia will receive therapist-led or self-help CBT via telehealth. …

This early study tests a new therapy called PRIDE for sexual minority individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc.) who have an eating disorder. The therapy aims to reduce internalized stigma and improve coping with stress related to their identity. Thirty participants will attend u…

This study compares two ways of weighing teens and young adults with eating disorders like anorexia: open weighing (where they see their weight and talk about fears) and blind weighing (where they don't see it). The goal is to see if open weighing reduces anxiety about weight gai…

This study tests whether a therapeutic ketogenic diet can reduce troubling eating disorder symptoms like the drive to restrict, binge, or purge, and body dissatisfaction. It includes adults with anorexia nervosa (both weight-recovered and underweight) and bulimia nervosa. Over 14…

This study is testing a smartphone app that uses brief surveys and phone sensor data to detect when someone with an eating disorder might be at higher risk for behaviors like binge eating, restricting food, or purging. The app then delivers short video lessons on coping skills. T…

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) and computer tasks to understand how women with anorexia or bulimia nervosa learn to avoid certain situations. Researchers will compare brain activity in 78 women—26 with anorexia, 26 with bulimia, and 26 healthy controls—to see if avoidance lea…

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) to investigate how the brain processes 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in women with anorexia or bulimia. Researchers will compare 189 women with eating disorders to 63 healthy women, using computer tasks and a test meal. The goal is to unders…

This observational study looks at how people with different eating disorders—like ARFID, anorexia, and bulimia—think and process information. Researchers will use questionnaires and computer tasks to measure traits like cognitive flexibility and body perception. The goal is to be…

This study looks at how eating changes brain activity related to self-control in women with bulimia nervosa. Researchers will use MRI scans to compare brain responses after fasting versus after a meal. The goal is to understand why control breaks down, leading to cycles of bingei…

This research study collects health information from 10,000 people with brain inflammation conditions like Long COVID, ME/CFS, and autoimmune diseases. Participants use a smartphone app to share symptoms, health history, and wearable data. The goal is to find disease subtypes and…

This study investigates how the brain processes anticipation of rewards in people with bulimia nervosa. Researchers will use brain scans (fMRI) and daily-life surveys to compare 100 participants—those with bulimia and healthy controls. The goal is to identify neural and psycholog…

This study aims to identify subgroups of people with diabetes who share similar patterns between their blood sugar levels and mental health. By using smartphone surveys and continuous glucose monitors, researchers will create 'digital twins'—virtual models that can predict how me…

This study tests whether functional MRI (fMRI) brain scans can detect changes caused by a single dose of naltrexone in adolescents aged 13-21 with eating disorders involving binge eating or purging. Participants receive both naltrexone and a placebo in random order, two weeks apa…

This study takes gut bacteria from women with eating disorders (like anorexia or bulimia) and gives them to mice to see if the mice gain or lose weight differently. The goal is to understand if an unhealthy gut microbiome can influence body weight and eating behavior. It's a basi…

This study follows about 185 patients with anorexia or bulimia during inpatient weight rehabilitation to see how their stomach and gut symptoms change over time. Researchers will compare three diet types—flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan—to find out which is linked to fewer dige…